Op. 49, Fantaisie in F minor

Autograph fair copy, the basis of Fontana’s lost copy ([FC]), and afterwards of the first German edition. The comparison of the texts of A and of the first French edition based on [FC] shows that Chopin introduced some changes into his manuscript after the copy had been made; moreover, he complemented performance markings to a great extent (in particular pedal marks and dynamic indications), hence A is the most carefully prepared source of the Fantasy's text by Chopin.

The change of rhythm in bar 154 and 234 is a later correction, that is after [FC] was finished, since it can be undoubtedly identified in the A notation. Possible additions, resulting from the comparison of the texts of A and FE1, include:

• pedalling, e.g. in bars 2-3 and analog., 19-42, 43-48, 124-126,
• dynamic markings, e.g.  in bar 43 and 54,  in bar 109 and analog. and 276 and analog., cresc. - - in bars 302-309,
• agogic indications, e.g. più mosso in bar 294 and sempre più mosso in bars 306-309,
• accents, e.g. in bars 52-53, 144-150 and 224-230,
• L.H. slurs, e.g. in bar 77, 155-164.

There are many places lacking in accidentals, generally in typical situations in Chopin's case:

• overlooked accidentals of the current key, e.g. in bars 149-152 or 185 and 187,
• uncancelled alterations, e.g. in bars 77-78 and 82, 210 or 265,
• overlooked accidentals in virtuoso figures encompassing more than an octave, e.g. in bars 87-88, 91-92 and analog.

In addition, A is not free from other mistakes:

• missing bass clef in bar 66,
• the  mark in bar 70, entered too early,
• most probably overlooked bottom voice note in bar 130,
• erroneous, additional tie to b in bars 182-183,
• probably wrong notes – f instead of e in bar 241 and a¹ instead of b¹ in bar 254,
• overlooked several-bar ending of the slur in bars 306-310.

The provided date of the creation of A comes from Chopin's letter to Fontana*, which reads: "I have completed the Fantasy today". However, taking into account the later corrections and additions, the actual date on which A was completed should be the moment it was sent to the Leipzig publisher, which took palce on 12 November 1841**.

^* Chopin's letter to Julian Fontana in Paris, Nohant, 20 October 1841.
^** Chopin's letter to the Breitkopf & Härtel company in Leipzig, Paris 12 November 1841.